WO2014169865A1

WO2014169865A1 - Method, controller, data center, system and storage medium for network accounting

Info

Publication number: WO2014169865A1
Application number: PCT/CN2014/076690
Authority: WO
Inventors: 王静; 周娜; 毕以峰; 汪军
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2013-08-09
Filing date: 2014-04-30
Publication date: 2014-10-23
Also published as: US9628634B2; EP3010260B1; CN104349298A; US9531553B2; US20170026523A1; US20160164691A1; CN104349298B; EP3010260A1; EP3010260A4

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for network accounting in the present invention. The method comprises: when receiving a request message for charging resources sent by a controller, a data center management network element supports an accounting function of a processing network element via a virtual machine and returns the processing network element information to the controller; the data center management network element sends to the processing network element accounting policy information, user state information and UGW information; the processing network element transmits data flows to the UGW according to the UGW information, accounts the data flows according to the accounting policy information and the user state information and returns accounting processing information to the data center management network element; the data center management network element returns the accounting processing information to the controller. A data center, controller, UGW and accounting system are also provided in the present invention. With the technical solution of the present invention, the accounting service for the SDN EPC network is achieved.

Description

Network charging method, controller, data center and system, storage medium

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a software-defined network technology, a data center virtualization technology, a charging technology, and a 3GPP (The 3rd Generation Partnership Project)-packet domain (PS) core network technology, and more particularly to a network. Billing method, controller, data center and system, storage medium. Background technique

Stanford University in the United States proposed the Open Flow protocol in 2008. The Open Flow protocol uses a separate architecture from forwarding and control. In the Open Flow protocol architecture, the control plane entity uses a controller based on the Open Flow protocol to implement various forwarding logics, and the forwarding plane entity uses a gateway based on the Open Flow protocol to perform controlled according to the flow table delivered by the controller. Forward. The behavior of the gateway is standardized. For example, after receiving a packet, the gateway parses the header of the packet, the L2/L3/L4 related field value, and searches the flow table as a keyword to match one of the flow tables. After the entry, the packet field is transformed according to the instruction set in the content of the entry. After the transformation is complete, the packet is forwarded to a logical or physical port according to the indication of the entry. Software Defined Network (SDN) is a further evolution of the Open Flow protocol. SDN can implement various complex network applications in software programming on the control plane, and the forwarding plane device does not need to be changed. Moreover, since the control surface uses a general-purpose server and a general-purpose operating system, it is possible to implement script programming using a general software programming tool or a computer programming language, Python, so that various new network protocol changes can be realized through the forwarding plane. It's very simple, and the new technology deployment cycle will be greatly shortened.

The evolved core network (EPC, Evolved Packet Core) is a new type of packet core network introduced in the 3GPP phase 8. The EPC further flattens the network, and the forwarding plane equipment is further divided into service. Service Gateway (SGW, Serving Gateway) and Packet Data Gateway (PGW, PDN Gateway). Since R8, EPC has carried out a series of functional enhancements, including the introduction of shunting and other technologies. These enhancements require a new protocol specification cycle of one to two years, implemented by equipment vendors, tested and deployed by operators. Thus, the introduction cycle of new network features has become very long and costly. The goal of the Open Flow protocol can solve these problems. In the Open Flow protocol, only the control network element in the Open Flow protocol needs to be modified. The logic of the controller can introduce new network features and be controlled by the controller. Face devices complete this new feature, and new network features are introduced quickly. However, the Open Flow protocol is currently mainly used in Layer 2 switching networks. For the network elements in the EPC that require service control, the Open Flow protocol cannot directly support it. After the introduction of the Open Flow mechanism, the function and control mode of the user plane network element of the existing EPC will be affected.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the system architecture of the SDN EPC. The universal gateway (UGW, Unified GateWay) in Figure 1 only has the user plane function, and all control plane functions are executed by the controller. The functions of the control plane include: user plane tunnel establishment, modification, quality of service (Qos, Quality of Service) guarantee, and so on. Through the logic control of the controller, the UGW can be divided into SGW and P-GW according to the function implementation. The SGW and the PGW are essentially unified gateways UGW with the same function, which enables a more flexible networking for the EPC, and the controller can flexibly introduce application functions through the application program interface (API) to enhance the EPC. Ability.

Implementing the charging function is the basic requirement of the operator for the network. In the SDN-based evolved EPC network, the implementation of this requirement also needs to be considered. In the prior art, the P-GW is responsible for the Charging Trigger Function (CTF), the Charging Data Function (CDF) function, and the Charging Gateway Function (CGF) function. The P-GW is responsible for the P-GW. Collecting and credit control of billing information, and supporting an interface with the billing system network element to implement off-line/online billing and content billing functions. In the prior art, the billing function packet gateway needs to have a logic control operation related to billing in addition to the route forwarding function. For the UGW of the SDN network, the implementation logic is complex, high in cost, and has no universal characteristics, and is no longer suitable for a new generation mobile communication network that controls the separation of the forwarding phase. Summary of the invention

To solve the above technical problem, an embodiment of the present invention provides a network charging method, a controller, a data center, a system, and a storage medium, which can implement a charging service of an SDN EPC network, and is simple in implementation, low in cost, and versatile. Strong.

The technical solution of the present invention is implemented as follows:

A network charging method, the method comprising:

When the data center management network element receives the request charging resource message sent by the controller, the virtual machine supports the charging function of the network element, and feeds back the information of the processing network element to the controller. The requesting charging resource message includes: charging policy information, user status information, and general gateway UGW information;

The data center management network element sends the charging policy information, the user status information, and the UGW information to the processing network element; the processing network element performs the data stream transmission with the UGW according to the UGW information, and And charging the data flow according to the charging policy information and the user state information, and feeding back the charging processing information to the data center management network element;

The data center management network element feeds back the charging processing information to the controller.

The method further includes: when the data center management network element receives the charging processing information of the online charging system, feeding back the charging processing information to the controller.

The processing the information of the network element includes: processing an address or tunnel information of the network element;

The charging policy information includes: a charging level, a charging method, a measuring method, and a usage reporting level;

The user status information includes: a user identifier, a user location information, a service network information, an access network type, a user closed user group CSG information, and a user-signed charging feature;

The UGW information includes: an address or tunnel information of the UGW. When the processing network element performs the online charging, the charging the data stream according to the charging policy information and the user status information includes:

The processing network element requests and obtains a credit line of each charging level from the online charging system; the credit line includes: a traffic volume, a duration;

The processing network element performs traffic and duration statistics on the data flow, and monitors a credit limit consumed by each of the charging levels; when the credit quota is exhausted, the processing network element reports to the online meter The fee system sends a credit limit control update message and obtains an updated credit line.

When the processing network element performs offline charging, the charging the data stream according to the charging policy information and the user status information includes:

The processing network element performs traffic and duration statistics on the data flow according to the charging policy information and the user state information, and monitors triggering of the charging event.

When the processing network element performs online charging, the method further includes:

The data center management network element sends the user status information change notification message to the processing network element when receiving the user status information change notification message sent by the controller;

When the charging event is triggered and the credit amount is re-authorized, the processing network element sends a credit limit control update message to the online charging system and obtains an updated credit line;

When the credit limit in the online charging system is exhausted, the online charging system sends a session suspension message to the data center management network element.

When the processing network element performs offline charging, the method further includes:

When the charging event is triggered, the processing network element sends the charging event and the traffic and duration statistics of the data flow to the offline charging system by using the accounting message; or, the processing network element passes the data record. The transport message sends the generated call detail record CDR to the offline billing system. The method further includes: when the session is aborted, the data center management network element notifies the controller of the session suspension message, and releases the user plane channel/link through the controller;

When the context of the session or the data packet protocol PDP is deleted, the data center management network element receives the charging related session release message sent by the controller, and notifies the processing network element to suspend charging and the upper 4 艮 charging processing. Information

The data center management network element releases the related resources of the processing network element, and deletes the charging policy information, the user status information, and the UGW information.

A network charging method, the method comprising:

Receiving the user status information sent by the mobility management network element and the charging policy information sent by the charging rule network element, and sending the charging policy information, the user status information, and the request charging resource message of the UGW information to the data center management. Network element

Receiving information about the processing network element sent by the data center management network element;

And configuring, according to the information about the processing network element, a flow table for the UGW; and sending the configured flow table to the UGW;

When the data stream is charged by the processing network element, the charging processing information fed back by the data center management network element is received.

The user status information includes: a user identifier, user location information, service network information, an access network type, CSG information, and a subscription feature of the user subscription;

The UGW information includes: an address or tunnel information of the UGW.

The method further includes: when receiving the user status information change notification message sent by the mobility management network element, sending the user status information change notification message to the data center management network element. The method further includes: receiving a session suspension message sent by the data center management network element when the session is suspended, and releasing the user plane channel/link;

When the context of the session or PDP is deleted, a charging related session release message is sent to the data center management network element.

A data center system, where the data center system includes: a data center management network element and a processing network element;

The data center management network element is configured to: when receiving the requesting charging resource message sent by the controller, the virtual machine supports processing the charging function of the network element, and feeds back information of the processing network element to the controller. The request charging resource message includes: charging policy information, user status information, and UGW information; sending the charging policy information, user status information, and UGW information to the processing network element; The charging processing information fed back by the network element is fed back to the controller;

The processing network element is configured to perform data transmission according to the UGW information and the UGW, and perform charging on the data flow according to the charging policy information and user state information, and feedback the charging processing information. To the data center management network element.

The data center further includes an online charging system, configured to send charging processing information to the data center management network element;

The data center management network element is further configured to feed back the charging processing information sent by the online charging system to the controller.

The user status information includes: a user identifier, a user location information, a service network information, an access network type, a user CSG information, and a subscription feature of the user subscription;

The UGW information includes: an address or tunnel information of the UGW. When the processing network element performs online charging, the processing network element is further configured to request and acquire a credit line of each charging level from the online charging system; the credit line includes: a traffic volume, a duration; and And performing flow rate and duration statistics on the data stream, and monitoring a credit limit consumed by each of the billing levels; sending a credit limit control update message to the online billing system when the credit line is exhausted; Obtain an updated credit line;

The online charging system is configured to provide a credit line for each charging level to the processing network element when receiving the request for processing the network element; when receiving the credit limit control update message of the processing network element And providing the processing network element with an updated credit line.

When the processing network element performs online charging, the processing network element is further configured to perform traffic flow and duration statistics on the data flow according to the charging policy information and user status information, and monitor triggering of the charging event.

When the processing network element performs online charging, the data center management network element is further configured to: when receiving the user status information change notification message sent by the controller, send the user status information change notification message to the Processing the network element;

The processing network element is further configured to: when the charging event is triggered, and the credit amount re-authorization, send a credit limit control update message to the online charging system, and obtain an updated credit line; the online charging system, And configured to send a session suspension message to the data center management network element when the credit limit in the online charging system is exhausted.

When the processing network element performs offline charging, the data center further includes: an offline charging system; the data center management network element is further configured to receive a user status information change notification message sent by the controller, Sending the user status information change notification message to the processing network element;

The processing network element is further configured to: when the charging event is triggered, send the charging event and the traffic and the length statistics of the data flow to the offline charging system by using the accounting message; or, the processing network Transmitting the generated CDR to the offline charging system by using a data record transmission message System

The offline charging system is configured to receive the charging event sent by the processing network element, the traffic of the data flow, the statistics of the duration, or the CDR.

The data center management network element is further configured to: when the session is aborted, notify the controller of the session suspension message, release the user plane channel/link through the controller; and delete the context of the session or the data packet protocol PDP Receiving the charging related session release message sent by the controller, and notifying the processing network element to suspend the charging and the charging processing information; releasing the related resources of the processing network element, and deleting the charging policy Information, user status information, and UGW information.

A controller, the controller, the controller includes: a first receiving unit, a first transmitting unit, a second receiving unit, a configuration unit, a second transmitting unit, and a third receiving unit;

The first receiving unit is configured to receive user status information sent by the mobility management network element and charging policy information sent by the charging rule network element;

The first sending unit is configured to send a request charging resource message including the charging policy information, the user state information, and the UGW information to the data center management network element;

The second receiving unit is configured to receive information about the processing network element sent by the data center management network element;

The configuration unit is configured to configure a flow table for the UGW according to the information of the processing network element;

The second sending unit is configured to send the configured flow table to the UGW;

The third receiving unit is configured to receive charging processing information fed back by the data center management network element when charging the data stream by using the processing network element.

The charging policy information includes: a charging level, a charging method, a measuring method, and a usage reporting level; The user status information includes: a user identifier, user location information, service network information, an access network type, CSG information, and a subscription feature of the user subscription;

The UGW information includes: an address or tunnel information of the UGW.

The controller further includes a third sending unit, configured to send the user state information change notification message to the data center management network element when receiving the user state information change notification message sent by the mobility management network element .

The controller further includes: a release unit and a fourth transmitting unit;

The releasing unit is configured to receive a session suspension message sent by the data center management network element when the session is aborted, and release the user plane channel/link;

The fourth sending unit is configured to send a charging related session release message to the data center management network element when the context of the session or the PDP is deleted.

A network charging system, the network charging system comprising any of the data centers described above, any of the controllers described above, and a UGW.

A storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program being configured to perform the aforementioned network charging method.

The network charging method, the controller, the data center, and the system according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the data center management network element receives the requesting charging resource message sent by the controller, the virtual machine supports the charging function of the network element, and Returning the information of the processing network element to the controller; where the request charging resource message includes: charging policy information, user status information, and general gateway UGW information; the data center management network element The billing policy information, the user state information, and the UGW information are sent to the processing network element; the processing network element performs the data stream transmission with the UGW according to the UGW information, and according to the charging policy information and the user status. The information is used to charge the data stream, and the charging processing information is fed back to the data center management network element; the data center management network element feeds back the charging processing information to the controller. In this way, the charging service for the SDN EPC network is realized, and the implementation is simple, the cost is low, and the versatility is strong. DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the system architecture of the SDN EPC;

2 is a schematic flowchart 1 of an implementation process of a network charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a second schematic diagram of an implementation process of a network charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic structural diagram of a data center according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

6 is a schematic structural diagram of a network charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of an implementation process of a network online charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of an implementation process of a network offline charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of an implementation process of a network content charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention. detailed description

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in the accompanying drawings.

The embodiment of the invention describes a network charging method performed by a data center. As shown in FIG. 2, the method includes the following steps:

Step 201: When the data center management network element receives the request charging resource message sent by the controller, the virtual machine supports processing the charging function of the network element, and feeds back the information of the processing network element to the controller.

The request charging resource message includes: charging policy information, user status information, and UGW information.

Preferably, the method further includes: when the data center management network element receives the charging processing information of the online charging system, the charging processing information is fed back to the controller.

Preferably, the information of the processing network element includes: processing an address of the network element or tunnel information; the charging policy information includes: a charging level, a charging method, a measuring method, and a usage report Grade

The user status information includes: a user identifier, a user location information, a service network information, an access network type, a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) information, and a charging feature subscribed by the user;

The UGW information includes: an address or tunnel information of the UGW.

When the processing network element performs online charging, the charging the data stream according to the charging policy information and the user status information includes:

Preferably, the data center management network element and the controller support the Sxx interface defined by the embodiment of the present invention, and the data center management network element of the Sxx interface can receive the request charging resource message sent by the controller. Moreover, the data center management network element can send the control information of the user to the controller by the online charging system or the offline charging system implemented by the virtual machine through the Sxx interface, and then the controller processes the user plane link accordingly. Moreover, the controller can request and obtain the address or tunnel information of the processing network element from the data center management network element through the Sxx interface.

Step 202: The data center management network element sends the charging policy information, the user status information, and the UGW information to the processing network element. The processing network element performs data flow according to the UGW information and the UGW. Transmitting, and according to the charging policy information and user status information The data stream performs charging, and the charging processing information is fed back to the data center management network element. Preferably, when the processing network element performs online charging, the method further includes:

Specifically, when the processing network element receives the service data to be charged from the UGW, it calculates the consumption of the traffic and the duration of each service data, and calculates all the service data corresponding to each charging level according to the charging policy information. Traffic and duration consumption; The use of traffic and duration is the use of credit lines, real-time monitoring of the current credit line remaining, and requesting new credits from the online billing system under the condition that the credit line is exhausted or credit re-authorization is satisfied. A credit or a credit reauthorization process is enabled. Correspondingly, the online charging system is responsible for credit control of the credit amount, assigning a new credit limit or re-authorizing the credit line to the processing network element. Moreover, the online charging system notifies the data center management network element that the controller disconnects the user plane connection when the credit limit is limited.

Preferably, when the processing network element performs offline charging, the method further includes:

When the charging event is triggered, the processing network element sends the charging event and the traffic and duration statistics of the data flow to the offline charging system by using the accounting message; or, the processing network element passes the data record. The transfer message sends the generated call detail record (CDR, Calling Detail Records) to the offline billing system.

Step 203: The data center management network element feeds back the charging processing information to the control Cry.

Preferably, the method further includes:

When the session is aborted, the data center management network element notifies the controller of the session suspension message, and releases the user plane channel/link through the controller;

When the context of the session or the packet data protocol (PDP) is deleted, the data center management network element receives the charging related session release message sent by the controller, and notifies the processing network element to suspend the charging and The billing processing information;

The embodiment of the present invention further describes a network charging method performed by a controller. As shown in FIG. 3, the method includes the following steps:

Step 301: Receive user status information sent by the mobility management network element, charging policy information sent by the charging rule network element, and send a request charging resource message including the charging policy information, user status information, and UGW information to Data center management network element.

Preferably, the Sll or Gn interface of the General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol (GTP-C) is supported between the controller and the mobility management network element, so that the controller can be compatible with the existing mobile. Sex management network element device. The controller can obtain user status information through the S11 or Gn interface.

Preferably, the controller and the charging rule network element support a Gx interface, and the Gx interface enables the controller to be compatible with the existing charging rule to generate the network element. Through the Gx interface, the controller can obtain billing policy information.

Preferably, the enhanced OpenFlow protocol is supported between the controller and the UGW, and the Open Flow protocol enables the controller to send the service data that needs to be charged to the virtual machine for charging information statistics in the data center, that is, the processing network. yuan.

Preferably, the processing the information of the network element includes: processing an address or tunnel information of the network element; The charging policy information includes: a charging level, a charging method, a measuring method, and a usage reporting level;

The UGW information includes: an address or tunnel information of the UGW.

Step 302: Receive information about the processing network element sent by the data center management network element. Preferably, the method further includes:

And receiving the user state information change notification message to the data center management network element when receiving the user state information change notification message sent by the mobility management network element.

Step 303: Configure a flow table according to the information about the processing network element, and send the configured flow table to the UGW.

Step 304: Receive charging processing information fed back by the data center management network element when charging the data stream by using the processing network element.

Preferably, the method further includes:

Receiving a session suspension message sent by the data center management network element when the session is aborted, and releasing the user plane channel/link;

When the context of the session or packet protocol PDP is deleted, a charging related session release message is sent to the data center management network element.

The embodiment of the present invention further describes a data center that is applicable to the foregoing network charging method. As shown in FIG. 4, the data center includes: a data center management network element 41 and a processing network element 42; wherein, the data center The management network element 41 is configured to: when receiving the requesting charging resource message sent by the controller, the virtual machine supports processing the charging function of the network element, and feeds back information of the processing network element 42 to the controller; The request charging resource message includes: charging policy information, user status information, and UGW information; sending the charging policy information, user status information, and UGW information to the processing network element 42; Bill 42 feedback processing letter Feedback to the controller;

The processing network element 42 is configured to perform data transmission according to the UGW information and the UGW, and perform charging on the data flow according to the charging policy information and user state information, and perform charging processing information. Feedback to the data center management network element 41.

Preferably, the data center further includes an online charging system 43 configured to send charging processing information to the data center management network element;

The data center management network element 41 is further configured to feed back the billing processing information sent by the online charging system 43 to the controller.

Preferably, the information about the processing network element includes: processing an address of the network element or the tunnel information; the charging policy information includes: a charging level, a charging method, a measuring method, and a usage reporting level;

The UGW information includes: an address or tunnel information of the UGW.

Preferably, when the processing network element performs online charging,

The processing network element 42 is further configured to request and obtain a credit line for each charging level from the online charging system 43. The credit line includes: a traffic volume, a duration; and, performing traffic on the data stream, Length statistics, and monitoring the credit line consumed by each of the billing levels; when the credit line is exhausted, sending a credit limit control update message to the online billing system 43 and obtaining an updated credit line;

The online charging system 43 is configured to provide a credit line of each charging level to the processing network element 42 when receiving the request of the processing network element 42; and receive the credit line of the processing network element 42. When the update message is controlled, the processing network element 42 is provided with an updated credit line.

Preferably, when the processing network element performs online charging, the processing network element 42 is further configured to perform traffic flow and duration statistics on the data flow according to the charging policy information and user state information. And monitor the triggering of the billing event.

Preferably, when the processing network element 42 performs online charging,

The data center management network element 41 is further configured to: when receiving the user status information change notification message sent by the controller, send the user status information change notification message to the processing network element 42;

The processing network element 42 is further configured to send a credit limit control update message to the online charging system 43 and obtain an updated credit line when the charging event is triggered and the credit amount is re-authorized;

The online charging system 43 is further configured to send a session abort message to the data center management network element 41 when the credit limit in the online charging system 43 is exhausted.

Preferably, when the processing network element performs offline charging, the data center further includes: an offline charging system 44;

The processing network element 42 is further configured to: when the charging event is triggered, send the charging event and the traffic and duration statistics of the data flow to the offline charging system 44 by using the accounting message; or Processing the network element sends the generated CDR to the offline charging system 44 by using a data record transmission message;

The offline charging system 44 is configured to receive the charging event and the data flow, the duration statistics, or the CDR sent by the processing network element 42.

Preferably, the data center management network element 41 is further configured to notify the controller of the session suspension message when the session is suspended, and release the user plane channel/link through the controller; when the context of the session or PDP Receiving, receiving the charging related session release message sent by the controller, and notifying the processing network element 42 to suspend charging and uploading the charging processing information; releasing the location The related resources of the network element 42 are determined, and the charging policy information, the user status information, and the UGW information are deleted.

The embodiment of the present invention further describes a controller applicable to the foregoing network charging method. As shown in FIG. 5, the controller includes: a first receiving unit 51, a first sending unit 52, and a second receiving unit 53, a configuration unit 54, a second sending unit 55, and a third receiving unit 56;

The first receiving unit 51 is configured to receive user status information sent by the mobility management network element and charging policy information sent by the charging rule network element;

The first sending unit 52 is configured to send a request charging resource message including the charging policy information, user status information, and UGW information to the data center management network element;

The second receiving unit 53 is configured to receive information about the processing network element sent by the data center management network element;

The configuration unit 54 is configured to configure a flow table for the UGW according to the information of the processing network element;

The second sending unit 55 is configured to send the configured flow table to the UGW, and the third receiving unit 56 is configured to receive the data stream when the processing network element performs charging by using the processing network element. The data center manages the accounting processing information fed back by the network element.

The UGW information includes: an address or tunnel information of the UGW.

Preferably, the controller further includes a third sending unit 57, configured to send the user state information change notification message to the data when receiving the user state information change notification message sent by the mobility management network element The center manages network elements. Preferably, the controller further includes: a release unit 58 and a fourth sending unit 59; wherein the releasing unit 58 is configured to receive a session suspension message sent by the data center management network element when the session is suspended, and release User plane channel/link;

The fourth sending unit 59 is configured to send a charging related session release message to the data center management network element when the context of the session or the PDP is deleted.

The embodiment of the present invention further describes a network charging system suitable for the network charging method. As shown in FIG. 6, the network charging system includes: the data center 61 shown in FIG. 4, and the data shown in FIG. Controller 62 and UGW 63.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the function implementation of the data center 61 can be understood by referring to the data center shown in FIG. 4. The function implementation of the controller 62 can be understood by referring to the controller shown in FIG. 5, and the implementation of the UGW 63 can be implemented. This is understood in conjunction with the data center shown in Figure 4 and the controller shown in Figure 5.

The network charging system in the embodiment of the present invention can implement online charging, offline charging, and content charging. among them,

When the network charging system implements online charging, the processing network element in the data center is specifically a statistical network element; and the statistical network element and the online charging system are all implemented by using a virtual machine.

When the network charging system implements offline charging, the processing network element in the data center is specifically a statistical network element; and the statistical network element and the offline charging system are all implemented by using a virtual machine.

When the network charging system implements content charging, the processing network element in the data center is specifically a transmission detection network element; the data center includes an online charging system and an offline charging network element; the transmission detection network element, online Both the billing system and the offline billing network element are implemented by using a virtual machine.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the functions of the various devices in the network charging system and the manner of interaction between the devices can be understood by referring to the foregoing network charging method, the data center, the controller, and the related description of the UGW. I won't go into details here.

The network charging method of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of an implementation process of an online online charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, steps 701 to 712 are an implementation process of online charging during a session establishment process, and steps 713 to 717 are used to change charging conditions. In the implementation process of the online charging, the steps 718 to 722 are the implementation process of the online charging when the credit authorization is terminated, and the steps 723 to 727 are the implementation process of the online charging when the session is terminated.

Step 701: The mobility management network element sends a create session or PDP context charging message to the controller.

This step is to create a channel/link for the user plane. The charging message includes: user identification, charging characteristics signed by the user, and the like.

Step 702: The controller obtains charging policy information by interacting with the charging rule network element. Here, the charging policy information includes: a charging level, a charging method, a measuring method, a charging reporting level, and the like.

Step 703: The controller sends a charging message to the data center management network element.

Here, the charging message includes: charging information, a requested statistical network element address or tunnel information, a user IP address, and UGW information. The charging information includes a user identifier, a charging rule, and the like.

Preferably, the tunnel information of the statistical network element is carried in the charging message only when the data is sent by the tunnel between the UGW and the statistical network element. This parameter is optional. The user IP address can be provided by the data center or by the controller. In the case that the controller specifies the user IP address, the data center needs to perform network address translation (NAT) on the user address to ensure that the downlink data reaches the statistical network element. The UGW information includes the UGW address or tunnel information. In this way, the statistical network element can complete the routing of the downlink data.

Step 704: The data center management network element performs resource configuration.

Specifically, the data center management network element uses a virtual machine to implement a statistical network element, and configures a function for the statistical network element to allocate an address or tunnel information for the statistical network element.

Step 705: The data center management network element sends the charging information and the UGW information to the statistical network element. In this way, the statistical network element can identify the relationship between the service data and the charging rule, and can send the downlink data to the UGW in an IP manner or a tunnel manner.

Step 706: The statistical network element acquires a credit line of each charging level from the online charging system. Here, the credit line includes: traffic of the business data and duration.

Step 707: The data center management network element responds to the charging message of the controller, and sends the address or tunnel information of the statistical network element, and the data center sends the IP address assigned by the user to the controller.

Step 708: The controller generates a flow table for the UGW.

In this way, the UGW can specify the data flow that needs to perform online charging according to the charging rule to the statistical network element of the data center.

Step 709: The controller sends the flow table to the UGW by using the OFPT_FLOW_MOD message in the Open Flow protocol.

Step 710: The uplink and downlink data may be sent by using an IP or a tunnel between the UGW and the statistical network element.

Step 711: The statistical network element of the data center performs statistics on the flow and duration of the data, and monitors the usage of the credit.

Step 712: When the credit quota is exhausted, the statistical network element sends a credit control update message to the online charging system to obtain a new credit limit.

Step 713: In order to support the charging, the mobility management network element needs to notify the controller of the user status change message by using the bearer or PDP context modification message when the status information of the user access changes.

Step 714: When the controller finds that the user status changes, the controller notifies the data center to manage the network element. Step 715: The controller sends the status information of the user access to the data center management network element by using a notification message.

Step 716: The data center management network element notifies the user network status to the statistical network element.

Step 717: After the charging trigger event and the credit re-authorization condition are met, the statistical network element passes The credit control update message obtains a new credit line to the online billing system.

Step 718: When the credit limit of the user in the online charging system is exhausted, the online charging system sends a session termination message to the data center management network element.

Steps 719, 720: The data center management network element releases the statistical network element virtual machine resource when the charging resource is not needed.

Step 721: The data center management network element notifies the controller of the termination of the session by using a feedback message, and the controller performs the release of the user plane channel/link operation.

Step 722: The controller deletes the flow table information related to the online charging data of the user, and notifies the mobility management network element to delete the wireless bearer related information.

Step 723: The network deletes the session or the PDP context due to the user being logged off or the subscription is invalid.

Step 724: The controller informs the data center management network element of the online charging related session release through the notification message. The data center management network element in turn notifies the statistical network element to initiate a credit control termination message to the online charging system.

Step 725: Step 726: When the data center management network element does not need the online charging function, the data center management network element releases the statistical virtual machine resource related to the online charging, and deletes the charging policy, the user identifier, and the like.

Step 727: The controller deletes the flow table information related to the online charging data of the user.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of an implementation of a network offline charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, steps 801 to 810 are implementations of offline charging during a session establishment process, and steps 811 to 815 are changed for charging conditions. The offline charging implementation process, steps 816 to 820, is an implementation process of offline charging when the session is terminated.

Step 801: The mobility management network element sends a create session or PDP context charging message to the controller.

This step is to establish a channel/link for the user plane. The charging message includes: a user identifier, a charging feature signed by the user, and the like. Step 802: The controller obtains charging policy information by interacting with the charging rule network element. Here, the charging policy information includes: a charging level, a charging method, a measuring method, a charging reporting level, and the like.

Step 803: The controller sends a charging message to the data center management network element.

Preferably, the tunnel information of the statistical network element is carried in the charging message only when the data is sent by the tunnel between the UGW and the statistical network element. This parameter is optional. The user IP address can be provided by the data center or by the controller. In the case that the controller specifies the user IP address, the data center needs to perform NAT on the user address to ensure that the downlink data reaches the statistical network element. The information of the UGW includes the address of the UGW or the tunnel information. In this way, the statistics network element can complete the routing of the downlink data.

Step 804: The data center management network element performs resource configuration.

Step 805: The data center management network element sends the charging information and the UGW information to the statistical network element. In this way, the statistical network element can identify the relationship between the service data and the charging rule, and can send the downlink data to the UGW in an IP manner or a tunnel manner.

Step 806: The data center management network element responds to the charging message of the controller, and sends the address or tunnel information of the statistical network element, and the data center sends the IP address allocated by the user to the controller.

Step 807: The controller generates a flow table for the UGW.

Step 808: The controller uses the OFPT_FLOW_MOD message in the Open Flow protocol to send the flow table to the UGW. Step 809: The uplink and downlink data may be sent in an IP or tunnel manner between the UGW and the statistical network element.

Step 810: The statistics network element of the data center performs traffic statistics and duration statistics on the data, and monitors the usage of the credit amount.

Step 811: In order to support charging, the mobility management network element needs to notify the controller of the user status change message by using the bearer or PDP context modification message when the status information of the user access changes.

Step 812: When the controller finds that the user status changes, the controller notifies the data center to manage the network element. Step 813: The controller sends the status information of the user access to the data center management network element by using a notification message.

Step 814: The data center management network element notifies the user network status to the statistical network element.

Step 815: When the user status change satisfies the charging event, the statistical network element sends the charging event and the statistical information to the offline charging network element by using the accounting message, or the generated data rate (CDR, which is generated by the data record transmission message). Committed Data Rate ) is sent to the offline charging network element. The former mode is applicable to the case where the Rf interface is supported between the statistical network element and the offline charging network element. The latter mode is applicable to the case where the Ga network interface is supported between the statistical network element and the offline charging network element.

Step 816: The network deletes the session or PDP context due to user logout or invalidation of the subscription.

Step 817: The controller informs the data center to manage the offline charging related session release of the network element by using a notification message. The data center management network element further instructs the statistical network element to transmit statistics to the offline charging system through the accounting message or the data record transmission message.

Step 818: Step 819: The data center management network element releases the statistical virtual machine resource related to the offline charging, and deletes the accounting policy, the user identifier, and the like, when the charging resource is not required.

Step 820: The controller deletes the flow table information related to the offline charging data of the user.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of implementing a network content charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. Steps 901 to 914 are content charging implementation processes during the session establishment process, and steps 915 to 919 are content charging implementation processes when the charging conditions are changed. Steps 920 to 924 are content charging implementation processes when the credit authorization is terminated. (Applicable only to the online charging situation), Steps 925 to 929 are the content charging implementation process when the session is terminated.

Step 901: The mobility management network element sends a create session or PDP context charging message to the controller.

Step 902: The controller obtains charging policy information by interacting with the charging rule network element. Here, the charging policy information includes: a charging level, a charging method, a measuring method, a charging reporting level, and the like.

Step 903: The controller sends an accounting message to the data center management network element.

Step 904: The data center management network element performs resource configuration.

Specifically, the data center management network element uses the virtual machine to implement the data center transmission detection network element, and performs the function of configuring the network element for the data center transmission, such as data statistics, online charging credit control, offline charging information reporting, and the like. The central transmission detects the network element assignment address and/or user plane tunnel information. Step 905: The data center management network element sends the charging information and the UGW information to the data center transmission detection network element.

In this way, the data center transmission detection network element can identify the relationship between the application and the charging rule, and can send the downlink data to the UGW in an IP manner or a tunnel manner. The data center transmission detection network element can request the content charging credit limit from the data center content charging system, and detect and count the data received by the downlink.

Step 906: The data center management network element responds to the charging message of the controller, and transmits the data center to detect the address or tunnel information of the network element, and the data center sends the IP address allocated by the user to the controller.

Step 907: The controller generates a flow table for the UGW.

In this manner, the UGW performs content charging on the data center transmission detection network element that can identify the service data that needs to be charged by the content according to the charging rule, and specifies the routing to the data center for the service data that cannot be identified according to the charging rule. The data center transmission detection network element performs content detection and charging.

Step 908: The controller uses the OFPT_FLOW_MOD message of the Open Flow to send the flow table to the UGW.

Step 909: The uplink and downlink data may be sent in an IP or tunnel manner between the UGW and the data center transmission detection network element.

Step 910: The data center transmission detection network element performs data detection and data statistics on the received uplink data stream.

Step 911: The data center transmission detection network element performs an online or offline charging function.

For example, online credit line credit re-authorization, offline billing, and online billing data traffic and duration statistics.

Step 912: The data center transmission detection network element detects the application type in the data flow and reports it to the data center management network element, and the data center management network element feeds back the application type to the controller.

In this way, the controller can know which applications are carried by the corresponding service data of the flow table. Step 913: After the controller knows the application information, if the data stream is found to require content charging, the data stream is forwarded to the data center of the data center to detect the network element; if the data stream is found to be content-free, the data stream is Forward directly from UGW to an external network server.

Step 914: The controller sends a flow table to specify a new route forwarding mode after the application information is learned. Step 915: In order to support the charging, the mobility management network element needs to notify the controller of the user status change message by using the bearer or PDP context modification message when the status information of the user access changes.

Step 916: When the controller finds that the user status changes, the controller notifies the data center to manage the network element. Step 917: The controller sends the status information of the user access to the data center management network element by using a notification message.

Step 918: The data center management network element notifies the data center transmission detection network element of the user status.

Step 919: When the data center transmission detection network element performs online charging, if the user status change satisfies the charging trigger event and the credit reauthorization condition, the data center transmission detection network element sends the credit control update message to the data center content charging system. Get a new credit line. The data center transmission detection network element reports the charging event and statistics information to the offline charging network element when the user status change changes to meet the charging triggering event.

Step 920: When the credit limit of the user in the data center content charging system is exhausted, the data center content charging system sends a session termination message to the data center management network element.

Steps 921, 922: The data center management network element releases the data center transmission detection network element virtual machine resource without requiring the charging resource.

Step 923: The data center management network element notifies the controller of the termination of the session by using the feedback message, and the controller performs the operation of releasing the user plane channel/link.

Step 924: The controller deletes the flow table information related to the user content charging data, and the controller notifies the mobility management network element to delete the radio bearer. Step 925: The network deletes the session or the PDP context due to the user being logged off or the subscription is invalid.

Step 926: The controller informs the data center to notify the data center to manage the release of the content related session of the network element through the notification message. The data center management network element further informs the data center to transmit the detection network element to terminate the online, or offline charging session, and report the statistical information.

Step 927: Step 928: The data center management network element releases the content detection-related transmission detection virtual machine resource, and deletes the charging policy, the user identifier, and the like.

Step 929: The controller deletes the flow table information related to the user content charging data.

The present invention also describes a storage medium in which a computer program is stored, the computer program being configured to execute the network charging method of the foregoing embodiments.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Industrial applicability

Through the technical solution of the present invention, the charging service for the SDN EPC network is realized, and the implementation manner is simple, the cost is low, and the versatility is strong.

Claims

claims

1. A network billing method, including:

When the data center management network element receives the charging resource request message sent by the controller, the virtual machine supports the charging function of the processing network element, and feeds back the information of the processing network element to the controller; wherein, The charging resource request message includes: charging policy information, user status information and universal gateway UGW information;

The data center management network element sends the charging policy information, user status information and UGW information to the processing network element; the processing network element transmits the data stream according to the UGW information and the UGW, and Charge the data flow according to the charging policy information and user status information, and feed back the charging processing information to the data center management network element;

2. The network charging method according to claim 1, wherein the method further includes: when the data center management network element receives the charging processing information of the online charging system, feedback the charging processing information to the controller.

3. The network charging method according to claim 1, wherein,

The processing network element information includes: processing the address or tunnel information of the network element;

The charging policy information includes: charging level, charging method, measurement method, usage reporting level;

The user status information includes: user identification, user location information, service network information, access network type, user closed subscriber group CSG information, and user subscription charging characteristics;

The UGW information includes: the address or tunnel information of the UGW.

4. The network charging method according to claim 2, wherein when the processing network element performs online charging, charging the data flow according to the charging policy information and user status information includes: :

The processing network element requests and obtains the credit limit of each charging level from the online charging system; The credit limit includes: traffic and duration;

The processing network element performs traffic and duration statistics on the data flow, and monitors the credit limit consumed by each billing level; when the credit limit is exhausted, the processing network element reports to the online accounting The billing system sends a credit limit control update message and obtains the updated credit limit.

5. The network charging method according to claim 1, wherein when the processing network element performs offline charging, charging the data flow according to the charging policy information and user status information includes: :

The processing network element performs traffic and duration statistics on the data flow based on the charging policy information and user status information, and monitors the triggering of charging events.

6. The network charging method according to claim 4, wherein when the processing network element performs online charging, the method further includes:

When the data center management network element receives the user status information change notification message sent by the controller, it sends the user status information change notification message to the processing network element;

When the charging event is triggered and the credit limit is reauthorized, the processing network element sends a credit limit control update message to the online charging system and obtains the updated credit limit;

When the credit limit in the online charging system is exhausted, the online charging system sends a session termination message to the data center management network element.

7. The network charging method according to claim 5, wherein when the processing network element performs offline charging, the method further includes:

When the charging event is triggered, the processing network element sends the charging event and the traffic and duration statistics of the data flow to the offline charging system through accounting messages; or, the processing network element sends the accounting message through data recording The transfer message sends the generated call detail record CDR to the offline billing system.

8. The network charging method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the method further includes:

When the session is suspended, the data center management network element notifies the controller of the session suspension message, and releases the user plane channel/link through the controller;

When the session or the context of the packet protocol PDP is deleted, the data center management network element receives the charging-related session release message sent by the controller, and notifies the processing network element to suspend charging and proceed with the charging process. information;

The data center management network element releases the relevant resources of the processing network element, and deletes the charging policy information, user status information and UGW information.

9. A network billing method, including:

Receive user status information sent by the mobility management network element and charging policy information sent by the charging rule network element, and send a charging resource request message including the charging policy information, user status information and UGW information to the data center management network element;

Receive information about the processing network element sent by the data center management network element;

Configure a flow table for the UGW according to the information of the processing network element; send the configured flow table to the UGW;

When the data flow is charged through the processing network element, the charging processing information fed back by the data center management network element is received.

10. The network charging method according to claim 9, wherein,

The user status information includes: user identification, user location information, service network information, access network type, CSG information, and user subscription charging characteristics;

The UGW information includes: the address or tunnel information of the UGW.

11. The network charging method according to claim 9, wherein the method further includes: when receiving the user status information change notification message sent by the mobility management network element, converting the user status information change notification message to Sent to the data center management network element.

12. The network charging method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the method further includes:

When the session is terminated, receive the session termination message sent by the data center management network element and release the user plane channel/link;

When the session or PDP context is deleted, a charging-related session release message is sent to the data center management network element.

13. A data center, including: a data center management network element and a processing network element; wherein, the data center management network element is configured to support the processing network through a virtual machine when receiving a billing resource request message sent by the controller. The charging function of the network element is fed back to the controller; where the charging resource request message includes: charging policy information, user status information and UGW information; the charging Send the policy information, user status information and UGW information to the processing network element; feed back the charging processing information fed back by the processing network element to the controller;

The processing network element is configured to transmit the data flow according to the UGW information and the UGW, charge the data flow according to the charging policy information and user status information, and feed back the charging processing information. Go to the data center to manage network elements.

14. The data center according to claim 13, wherein the data center further includes an online charging system configured to send charging processing information to the data center management network element;

The data center management network element is also configured to feed back the charging processing information sent by the online charging system to the controller.

15. The data center according to claim 13, wherein,

The information of the processing network element includes: the address or tunnel information of the processing network element; The charging policy information includes: charging level, charging method, measurement method, usage reporting level;

The user status information includes: user identification, user location information, service network information, access network type, user CSG information, and user subscription charging characteristics;

The UGW information includes: the address or tunnel information of the UGW.

16. The data center according to claim 14, wherein when the processing network element performs online charging,

The processing network element is also configured to request and obtain a credit limit for each charging level from the online charging system; the credit limit includes: traffic and duration; and, perform traffic and duration statistics on the data flow , and monitor the credit limit consumed by each billing level; when the credit limit is exhausted, send a credit limit control update message to the online charging system and obtain the updated credit limit;

The online charging system is configured to provide a credit limit for each charging level to the processing network element when receiving a request from the processing network element; when receiving a credit limit control update message of the processing network element. , providing an updated credit limit to the processing network element.

17. The data center according to claim 13, wherein when the processing network element performs online charging, the processing network element is further configured to process the data flow according to the charging policy information and user status information. Conduct traffic and duration statistics, and monitor the triggering of billing events.

18. The data center according to claim 16, wherein when the processing network element performs online charging,

The data center management network element is further configured to send the user status information change notification message to the processing network element when receiving the user status information change notification message sent by the controller;

The processing network element is also configured to send a credit limit control update message to the online charging system and obtain the updated credit limit when a charging event is triggered and the credit limit is reauthorized; The online charging system is further configured to send a session termination message to the data center management network element when the credit limit in the online charging system is exhausted.

19. The data center according to claim 17, wherein when the processing network element performs offline charging, the data center further includes: an offline charging system;

The processing network element is further configured to, when a charging event is triggered, send the charging event and the traffic and duration statistics of the data flow to an offline charging system through an accounting message; or, the processing network element Send the generated CDR to the offline charging system through a data record transfer message;

The offline charging system is configured to receive the charging event sent by the processing network element and the traffic and duration statistical results of the data flow, or CDR.

20. The data center according to any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein,

The data center management network element is also configured to notify the controller of a session suspension message when the session is terminated, and release the user plane channel/link through the controller; when the session or the context of the packet protocol PDP is deleted When, receive the charging-related session release message sent by the controller, and notify the processing network element to suspend charging and upload the charging processing information; release the relevant resources of the processing network element, and delete the charging policy information, user status information and UGW information.

21. A controller, including: a first receiving unit, a first sending unit, a second receiving unit, a configuration unit, a second sending unit and a third receiving unit; wherein,

The first sending unit is configured to send a charging resource request message including the charging policy information, user status information and UGW information to the data center management network element; The second receiving unit is configured to receive the information of the processing network element sent by the data center management network element;

The configuration unit is configured to configure a flow table for the UGW based on the information of the processing network element;

The third receiving unit is configured to receive the charging processing information fed back by the data center management network element when charging the data flow through the processing network element.

22. The controller according to claim 21, wherein,

The UGW information includes: the address or tunnel information of the UGW.

23. The controller according to claim 22, wherein the controller further includes a third sending unit configured to, when receiving the user status information change notification message sent by the mobility management network element, send the user The status information change notification message is sent to the data center management network element.

24. The controller according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the controller further includes: a release unit and a fourth sending unit; wherein

The release unit is configured to receive a session termination message sent by the data center management network element when the session is terminated, and release the user plane channel/link;

The fourth sending unit is configured to send a charging-related session release message to the data center management network element when the session or the context of the PDP is deleted.

25. A network charging system, including the data center according to any one of claims 13 to 20, the controller according to any one of claims 21 to 24, and a UGW.

26. A storage medium, in which a computer program is stored, and the computer program is configured to execute the network charging method described in any one of claims 1 to 8 or any one of claims 9 to 12.